Exercises

The sooner you can resume normal activities the better off you are. I don't mean push it, and I don't mean start doing jumping jacks. Start walking and add distance incrementally. And do this every day. One block, two, three, until you're comfortably walking a mile or so.

Equally important is the rehabilitation of your arm. If you haven't had physical therapy many excellent resources are mentioned above. You can run through arm exercises in fifteen minutes or so. I still do so to this day. After full lymph dissection and radiation the natural tendency of the arm and skin is to retract and tighten.

One of the best things I'e found is yoga. Many cancer treatment centers (in Houston through MD Anderson and Memorial Hermann) now offer yoga for cancer survivors. It's excellent and a gentle way to reduce stress.

There are exercises developed by lymphedema experts specifically to decongest the swollen limb. They tend to combine stretching protocols with decongestion protocols utilizing the "muscle pump", that is, causing the major arm and leg muscles to slowly expand and contract and squeezing the skin against a compression garment or bandaging. There are a number of videos available demonstrating these specialized exercises.

Our favorite is the Video "Remedial Exercises For the Upper Extremities" by Klose Norton Training & Consulting is available for $34.95 + $5.00 s&h for NLN members, $39.95 + $5.00 s&h for non-members from:
National Lymphedema Network
1611 Telegraph Avenue, Suite 1111
Oakland, CA 94612-2138

Edema Exercises for Patients with Arm (Leg) Lymphedema by Dr. Vodder School in Austria

Focus on Healing through Movement & Dance by Sherry Lebed Davis which you can order thru the NLN 1-800-541-3259 $28.00 + 5.50 s/h for members, 32.95 + 5.50 s/h for non-members. Or you can order it from the producer, Enhancement Inc.1-800-366-6038 for 29.75 + 3.00 s/h.

Arm Exercises Video by Dr. Vodder School - North America, 2000.

Dr. Judith Casley-Smith, 94 Cambridge Terrace, Malvern SA 5061, Australia, E-mail: casley@enternet.com.au, includes swimming exercises for lymphedema in her book, "Exercises for Patients with Lymphedema of the Arm and a Guide to Self-Massage and Hydrotherapy". She also has one for the legs. You receive it when you order her "Exercise Video" for both arms and legs. Price for overseas including postage & insurance is Economy $60, Air $65. She asks that payment be in a personal check in your own currency on you own band, but please add $15 for conversion.

There are exercise routines described in some of the lymphedema books, but I favor the videos since the demonstrations are more understandable than the dry words and static sketches or photos.

Joe Zuther had an excellent article in his January 6, 2011 blog called "Decongestive and Breathing Exercises for Lymphedema."